Love & Scars

A Kiss At Midnight

They walked out of the room, arm in arm. Remus and Sirius behind them. The Potter home was big, not gigantic, but it did have a small ballroom. There were a lot of older people in the room, and she was happy she didn't recognise any of her father's friends or acquaintances.

"Let me introduce you to my parents." James tugged her forward before she had a chance to reply. James's parents were older than most of the parents were, having James at a later age. But they were so friendly and welcoming, they insisted she called them Effie and Fleamont. After a handful of introductions later, James guided her to a door in the back of the ballroom, leading her into a smaller sitting area.

The room was filled with kids their age. Sirius and Remus were already there, they were talking to Marlene and Mary. Izzie turned to James.

"Isn't Lily coming?"

"No, I asked but her parents wanted her home."

"I'm sorry, but you can always kiss Sirius at midnight." She snickered. "I'm kissing Remus, so he's taken."

"But he is taken. Why kiss him?"

"It's tradition and innocent. R-" She cleared her throat. "Remus's boyfriend." She corrected before she spilled his name. "Knows all about it."

"Innocent? Like the kiss Sirius and I stumbled upon?"

Izzie's eyes were large as she looked at him, a frown on top. "I think you need new glasses, Potter. I was kissing his cheek."

"Oh, well." He rubbed his neck nervously.

"Why do you care about who I kiss?"

"I don't, it's-" He snapped his mouth shut. And he was saved from answering when Mary and Marlene came over. They dragged her to the other side of the room where other kids were dancing on the music. James wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand before he walked over to Remus and Sirius. They were leaning against the wall, looking at the dancing girls. Remus had a soft smile on his lips as he watched his best friend dance freely, laughing with the other girls. Sirius was looking at her as though he wanted to put her against the wall and snog her. James nudged his side to break his obvious gazing. He blinked a few times, making James grin before he turned to Remus.

"She has a scar on her leg." He said with a frown.

"Shit, they missed one." Remus muttered. Both James and Sirius opened their mouths to reply but Remus cut them off. "She got that from falling down at slide when she was young. Stupid kids' accident, that's all."

Sirius and James looked at each other, knowing Remus was lying but it wasn't his story to tell, so they dropped it. They knew well enough by now when to ask questions and when to shut up if it came to Isabelle Miller.

"Aren't you going to ask her to dance?" James asked Sirius, and Remus's head snapped to them, his eyes a little narrowed.

"I am, when it's closer to midnight." He answered with a twinkle in his eyes. "Then when the countdown starts..."

"Ah, you hit a snag there, Pads." Remus grumbled a little. "You see, Izzie and I have a little tradition."

"They always kiss at midnight." James said, looking a little sad at Sirius.

"But-" He turned from James to Remus. "You're seeing someone!" He pointed out.

"Really?" Remus gasped, pushing himself off the wall. "How could I forget? He knows, Sirius. It's not the first time one of us is seeing someone at New Years, it's all out in the open." He looked from Sirius to Izzie. "I'm going to get a new drink." And he darted to the bar.